Feedback: Friends of Abra (FOA) FaceBook Group under fire

I have been asked many time if abrenian.com wanted to accept donations to help defray the cost of maintaining this site. I politely declined each time. Because I know that once you start accepting money from users, you eventually needs to account for it.

Here’s a feedback received in our inbox from an anonymous user regarding Abrenian Group Friends of Abra (FOA). This group was founded by Ted Brillantes and has about 2,400 members.

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Greetings Sysop,

I would like to bring to the attention to all users in your site what’s happening at the Friends of Abra (FOA) group of late. I am a member of that group but not very active. Nevertheless I do read the posts there every now and then. The group had been very active in outreach projects in the different towns of Abra for the past months. Every time a new project comes out, the administrators would solicit donations either in kinds or in monetary form or simple ask members to be volunteers. But lately, the group has been under fire because of the questions on financial accountability. A couple of members (donors) have asked the organizers are full accounting of the expenses for each project. There is an on going debate whether it is necessary or not to do such accounting. The issue is going out of hand and some users have either quit the group or expelled by the Administrators.

This is very unfortunate and very embarrassing to Abrenians like me. Such a public display of in fighting among Abrenians is disgusting and uncalled for.

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38 thoughts on “Feedback: Friends of Abra (FOA) FaceBook Group under fire”

when money is involved people changed, they say money is the root of all evil,people become greedy,a lot of needs arises,thus causing you to want more…in short we need guides and rules so as not to stray…

I beg to disagree that money is the root of all evil. Some people are just greedy. Even guides and rules are not guarantee of order. People find ways to get away with crime. My unsolicited advice: look at the mirror folks and have a reality check:))))

This is not good. Correct me if am wrong facebook was once created for college students. I heard that it is now dominated by older folks who act like kids. Now their own kids have left because they cannot take the humiliation from their parents’ actions.

And they continue to bad mouth FOA who is helping a lot of needy Abrenians. Where is the Treasurer of FOA who happens to be the wife of one of those who is instigating issues in that group? Why is she not talking? Mr. Instigator, come on, tell your wife to speak out. Where is the money?

Here’s a comment from the Founder of FOA.
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Name: Ted Brillantes
Comment: Thanks SysOp for your feature on Friends of Abra…

Just wondering why the contributor withheld his/her name. FOA is a secret group so all discussions there are not out in the public as he/she claims. As of his/her writing, the membership remains at 2393, down from 2406 before the issues started. Only 8 voluntarily left which is contrary to what he/she wanted to put a spin on. But it is nice to see that FOA is being noticed. We need quality members who desire to improve the lives of their brothers in Abra so even if our numbers decrease FOA will go on.

I agree with you AKA. I am a member of the group although not as active as the others that are really doing the legwork but I donate financially the little I can because this is a group who has the most projects done as well as ongoing ones. I was just there and they are planning more Medical Missions after the controversial Langiden Mission and I can see that there are already people pledging to those future plans. I think people are looking at the missions accomplished and not which or where was the money spent.

some left groups for varied reasons like incompatibility with the other members, health reasons and the worst reason is ” sapawan”…..part of these why i voluntarily left some and created some groups mostly kins for lesser problems ken nalaklaka a masolbar ti problema no aga-ammo kayo ti personal, isu man kakabsat ti na-obserbarak.

In addition,no matter what groups you are in, as long as your advocacy is for the benefits of many, still i salute you! Let’s not be judgemental to any group, we don’t want to be judged too.Whatever is happening to FOA now,i hope through continuous good deeds,the name would be redeemed.Those who have stayed and have left the group,let’s respect their decisions……hindi po nakakabawas sa pagkatao ang paglisan at pagsapi sa mga grupo, ang pinakamalaga ay kung ano ang magagawa mo para sa kapakanan ng nakakarami.Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat.

The truth is they wanted to take over FOA that’s why they were trying to find reasons to attack the founder and other members. Everything was accounted for only that some immaterial items that they were not able to find a receipt. Kas koma no gumatang ka ti crudo nga i botbotelya da diay talogtod adda aya met recibo. No bayadam tay driver adda ngad recibo na. No gumatang ka merienda nga coke nga nasupot ti plastic adda recibo na? The founder repeatedly told them to look at the doc.files where all the expenditures where supported but they demanded the original receipt. Now that they are no longer members they are spreading rumors and aspersion but you know what people are starting to show support because they are realize thay FOA is a good cause. We are heading to Langiden, another medical/dental mission.
By the way, one person deleted the original financial report. What a shame! Go FOA!

Kahit pag namalengke dna tinatanung kung anu binili mo..but in this case it’s absolutely another thing……the person/s who accepted the money should acknowledge when receiving donations haan ngarud???tapno nadalus ka in case adda agsitar???..why do you keep on saying you
( donors) don’t need receipts…the people fighting for this are not only donors..they are members of the ADMIN and BOT…meaning it is FOA’s or any group leaders’ responsibility/obligation to show every expense made to the members donors or not…pls keep in mind this is a group of people from around the world who don’t know so much about each other..it is TRUST….pinapairal dto ay trust…so to be trusted be transparent even not asked…..AGREE????

the situation is worsening. Now the group is claiming that one of the former member is refusing to turn over the funds that was collected from donors. Ti rigat na, datay innikat da ket cannot defend himself on this allegations. This is becoming to be an embarrassment to all Abrenians.